Socket



Patented Dec. 1, 1931 I UNITED. STATES, PA'rsN'r OFFICE RNEB'I' A. new, OF'CBIGAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB .TO ZELLOGG SWITCHBOABD v AND SUPPLY OF CHICAGO, IIZLINOIS, A CORPORATION OFILLHTOIB I Application ma Apr-11,9, 191m. Serial No. 106,798.

This invention relatesto sockets ada ted to receive and support vacuum tubes suc as are employed in radio systems and the like.

It has been .found desirable to provide means in the sockets whereby the tube carried thereby may be resiliently supported from the base' or from the panel upon which the tube is mounted. Heretofore means have been provided, whereby the socket properis resiliently supported inits entirety from the base.

The object of the present invention is to provide a socket wherein thetube will be resiliently supported from the base or the supporting panel without the necessity of providing means for resiliently supporting the socket member from the base; thus ermitting the manufacture of the socket wlth less parts and efi'ecting asaving both in the process of manufacture and in the material emplo ed. v

ne of the features of the invention resides in the provision of a socket with openings therein for the reception of the tube terminal pins-or contacts and the arrangement of the terminal pin receiving contact devices of the socket in alignment with the'said openings whereby whenthe pins are inserted through the openings they are' firmly received by t contact devices, means being provided to resiliently support the individua contact devices from the base.

Another feature of the invention resides in 'the arrangement whereb the resilient supporting means for the soc ets are in the form of metal springs which act electricallyto join' the contact receiving devices the blnding posts of the socket.

Other features and advantages will ap ar from time to time as the description the invention progresses.

It is belleved the further disclosure of the invention will "be understood most readily from a detailed description thereof taken in the accompanying drawings,

with the openin Fig. 4 is a transverse section throu h the :ocket showing the socket in inverte posi- 1on; i

.Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but shows the bottom cover plate in position;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but'with the top of the socket member cut away; thus showing the contact members therewithln Fig is an enlarged view of one ofthe contact members in section, and

Fig. 8 is a perspective'view ,of-one of the contact members detached.

Referring now' to the drawings in which like reference characters indicate,the same parts in the several views, 10 indicates the base of the socket having the downwardly extending flange 11 adapted to be maintainedin spaced relation to the mounting 'plate or board by means'of the hollow lugs12 through which screws adapted to secure the socket to the mounting plate are adapted to pass and. also the solid lugs 13. Extending upwardly from the base-10, asshown most clear-' or dome shaped member 14. The member 14 is provided in. the upper wall 15 thereof 16 adapted to receive the ly in Figs. 3 and 4, is a hollow cup-shaped 1 terminal pins 0 the tube associated there with. In the presentembodiment of the invention the wall 15 is provided with four of the openings 16 toaccommodate a tube having four terminals. However, it is obvious that this number'may be varied in accordance with the type of tube to be employed. I Within the member 14 and positi'onedbelow the openings "16, respectlvely, are the contact devices 17 adapted to receive and.

firmly grip the terminal pins inserted throu h.

the openings 16. One of these contact evices 1s shown in detail in 7 and 8.

Extending upwardly through the base 10 are the bindmg posts 18 each of which passes through. an opening'19 in terminal strap 20 integral with. the resilient arm 21 which sup ports the contact device generally indicated at 17. Each binding post is provided with a clamping nut 22 "and also a knurled nut 23 Lin the usual manner. The'resilient member 21 at its outerend is S-shaped; 1t"extends-' upwardly as shown at 24 and thence down- 0 vide the member 26; The member 25 is wardly to provide the member and is again rebent on itself and extends upwardly to prorovided with the curved extensions or wihgs 27 (see Figs. 4 and 8-) which act to provide a groove within which the terminal pin is adapted to slide. The upwardly extending member 26 terminates in an outwardly curved portion 28. The outwardly curved portion 28 together with the oppositely curved part 29 at the top of member 25 act to provide a tapered guide way to direct a terminal pin between the-members 25 and 26 wherein the pin is held by the resiliency of the members. Secured to the bottom of the base and within the flange 11 by means of the screws 30 is a cover plate 31. The cover plate 31 is spaced slightlyfrom the resilient members 21 and also from the curved portion 32 which joins the parts 25 and 26. Thus when the terminal pins of the tube are inserted in the openings the movement of the contact device is limited by the part 32 engaging the cover plate 31 and when the pressure is removed from the socket the resiliency of the supporting members acts to move the contact devices'and socket so asto maintain them free of the base member and the wall 15. a

It is now clear that the tube is freely supported by the contact members 17 together with the'supporting arms 21- and associated parts so that the tube is free to vibrate slightly inall directions. It is, of course, understood that the openings 16 through which the terminal pins of the tube pass are slightly lar r than the pins.

y the construction above described each of the pin receivingcontact devices is separately resiliently supported thus permitting a freer movement of the tube by a minimum amount of apparatus The manner of constructing the contact devices integral with the resilient supporting arm and the ter-' 'minal tabs acts to produce a socket which is of extreme simplicity and exceedingly cheap to manufacture and assemble. 4 While in the drawings and in' the above description'but a single set of details have many, modifications in the character of the device and the supportin -means therefor are contemplated. The in ention, therefore, should be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I base.

its 2. In a tube socket, a base, S-shaped tube terminal pin receiving contact devices and iisupporting springs for said S-shaped 0011* P been disclosed, it is to be understood that tact devices, respectively, joining said devicesto said base.

3. In a tube socket, a base, binding posts on said base, S-sha ed tube terminal pin receiving contact evices and supporting springs for said S-shaped contact devices, respectively, joining said devices to said bindcontact devices and supporting springs inte gral with said S-shaped contact devices, respectively, joining said devices to said binding posts.

6. In a tube socket, a supporting member, said member having openings therein for the reception of vacuum tube terminal pins, 8- shaped tube terminal pin receiving'contact devices within said member in alignment with said openings, respectively, and resilient means for supporting said S-shaped contact devices.

7. In a tube socket, a supporting member, said member having openings therein for the reception of vacuum tube terminal pins, tube terminal pin receiving contact devices within said member in alignment with said openings and resilient supporting means for said devices, respectively, said contact devices which are integral with said supporting means being bent and rebent upon themselves to form S-shaped contact devices.

8. In a tube socket, a supporting member, said member having openings the-rein for'the reception of vacuum tube terminalpins, terminal pin' receiving contact devices within said member in alignment with the said openings, respectively, said devices comprising a member bent and rebent upon itselt, and resilient su porting means for said devices integrally o'rmed therewith, respectively, elec- 9. Inja tube socket, a supporting member, said member having openings therein for the Q reception of vacuum tube terminal pins, tube terminal pin receiving contact devices within said member in ali ings, res ectively, said devices comprising a member nt and rebent upon itsel to form a pair of grooves, one of said grooves being her in alignment with said open ngs, respectrically joining said devices to saidbinding cut with said open-' adapted to'receive a terminal pin,- and springs tively, said devices comprising a member bent and rebent upon itself, and resilient means integral'therewith' for supporting said devices.

11. In a tube socket, a base, a cup shaped member carried by said base, said member having openings therein for the reception of vacuum tube terminal pins, tube terminal pin receiving contact devices within said member in alignment with said openings, said devices comprising a member bent and rebent upon itself, and resilient supporting means integral therewith for said devices, respectively.-

12. In a tube socket, a base, binding posts I on said base, a cup shaped member carried by said base, said member having openin s therein for the reception of vacuum tu e terminal pins, terminal pin receiving contact devices within said member in alignment with the said openings, respectively, said devices comprisin a member bent and rebent upon itself, an resilient supporting means for said devices formed integrally therewith, respectively, electrically joining said devices to said binding posts.

13. In a tube socket, a base, a cup shaped member carried by said base, said member having openings therein for the reception of vacuum tube'terminal pins, tube terminal pin receiving contact devices within said member in alignment with said openings, said devices comprising a member bent and rebent upon itself, and s rings integral'with said devices, respective y, for. supporting said devices from said base. I

14. In a. tube socket, a base, binding posts on said base, a cup shaped member carried by said base, said member having openings therein for the reception of-v'acuum tube terminal pins, terminal pin receiving contact devices within said member in alignment with the said openings, respectively, said devices comprisin a member'bent and rebent upon itself, an supporting springs integral with said.devices, respectively, electrically joining said devices to said binding posts.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

ERNEST A. BOHLMAN. 

